Another Super Bowl ratings record likely

Early numbers put game on CBS slightly ahead of last year

The Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday appears to have set a ratings record, based on overnight numbers — though this year’s early estimates are murkier than usual due to the lengthy blackout that delayed the game for more than 30 minutes.

According to Nielsen, CBS’ coverage from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 to 10:45 p.m. ET earned a 48.1 household rating/71 share, up a bit from the last two Super Bowls, which averaged just below a 48 rating. Last year’s game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots on NBC averaged an estimated 113.35 million viewers.

The preliminary overnights do not include the power outage from 8:45-9:15 p.m. ET. Sunday’s game peaked with a 52.9/75 overnight rating from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET.

The half-hour containing the Beyonce concert at halftime earned a 48.2/71, right in line with the surrounding half-hours of football action.

Baltimore grabbed the top scores among Nielsen’s metered markets (a 59.6 rating/83 share), with host city New Orleans second (57.1/77).

Following the postgame show on CBS, rookie drama “Elementary” averaged a series-best 12.0 household rating/24 share in the metered markets from 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., and a special late Sunday airing of “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (12:45-1:45 a.m.) averaged a preliminary 3.2/11.